Gotta get the arena built first. There just isnt anywhere for them to really play while its getting built. In 5 years I would like to see that new arena filled with both hockey and basketball for over 100 nights a year.

The Mariners will be as fine as they want to be. I think attendance, merchandise sales, etc. are far more dependent on variables that are directly related to each individual team and organization than what's going on with others.

canzag wrote:1st choice would be the Coyotes then maybe Florida or Columbus.Those 3 would be the best bets to move.Would put pressue on the mariners to improve thier product.A good thing imo

First off living in Arizona, I would say that if the situation isn't fixed 3 to 4 years from now once the ownership situation ever gets itself fixed and they figure out how to get people to travel all the way over to the west side of the valley as anyone that has been down here to the central valley of Arizona knows how wide spread it is with out any real public transportation than I say they might then move.

That said, the first location will be to Quebec. Now, I could see the Islanders, Florida, Columbus, and Phoenix being possible candidates.

Kings/sonics will be playing in the new arena 2.5 years from now. Hanson has said for this to work the NHL will have to be in town as well. Im sure he has secret deals under the table and this is all in motion. You don't buy that land and do what he has done with out deals in place.

Hasselbeck wrote:Matt Flynn should be our starter. Wilson is nothing more than a backup and will never amount to anything in this league.

T-Sizzle wrote:Kings/sonics will be playing in the new arena 2.5 years from now. Hanson has said for this to work the NHL will have to be in town as well. Im sure he has secret deals under the table and this is all in motion. You don't buy that land and do what he has done with out deals in place.

Hanson needs arena dates. Thats how stadiums make money. Hockey is coming after the stadium is built.

I've been waiting for the NHL since Ackerly killed my dreams in the 92 Key Arena remodel.

I think it's only a matter of time before NHL is in Seattle. Bettman wants a team there, if he had his way the Atlanta Thrashers would have moved there over Winnipeg, but didn't happen because of the arena situation. Also overwhelming support behind Winnipeg.

Once the new arena in Seattle gets built, pick any NHL franchise in southern USA and i'm sure rumours will start going around about relocation.

Throwdown wrote:The arena deal was also modified so that the NHL wasn't a must, because he wasn't as confident about the prospects of the NHL as he was the NBA's.

The arena can work with just an NBA team, but an NHL team makes it easier to pay the bills off easier and quicker.

I have not seen or heard that anywhere.....just the other day on local radio they were saying the opposite. I guess I would be interested in your source of information? To my knowledge the plan has always been to also have an NHL team there as well.

Hasselbeck wrote:Matt Flynn should be our starter. Wilson is nothing more than a backup and will never amount to anything in this league.

You might be right, But I swear there was something back in the infancy days there was a change that made it possible for it to be just an NBA team, because of the question mark that is the NHL, because Hansen has no desire to own an NHL franchise.

IMO most certainly an NHL owner will come to Seattle and say "hey sooo uhh any space in that arena of yours?"

Throwdown wrote:You might be right, But I swear there was something back in the infancy days there was a change that made it possible for it to be just an NBA team, because of the question mark that is the NHL, because Hansen has no desire to own an NHL franchise.

IMO most certainly an NHL owner will come to Seattle and say "hey sooo uhh any space in that arena of yours?"

Getting an NHL team is not a must. I can't pin down the exact specifics, but it's something to the effect of securing an NHL team allows Hansen access to more money from bonds or something like that. It's a matter of money freed up for Hansen over money he has to pay out of pocket.

It wouldn't make sense to make a deal with Hansen hinged on also getting an NHL team when Hansen is not going to be shopping for an NHL team. A secured NBA team + all of the reviews being done is enough to put a shovel in the ground.